What to do after a band slip??

After not having a fill for almost 4 years (and gaining 15 pounds in the last year), I finally got in to see the doc.  According to my records from my original surgeon in Arizona, he had put a total of 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band.  The new doc was very confused after he was able to put in 7 cc's of new fluid and I was having no trouble getting 32 oz. of water down.  He ordered an x-ray and says it doesn't look normal - thinks I have a slip or a leak.  He has ordered and upper GI for Monday to determine for sure what is going on.  I had assumed that the fluid would dissipate over time - especially 4 years.  He said that a minor amount might "sweat" out, but that I still should have had 5 or 6 cc's before he added the 7 cc's. 

I'm so confused.  I don't know what I'll do if he says I need surgery to fix the slip.  I paid cash originally, and (after 5 1/2 years) have different insurance so I don't know if it will cover anything.  I haven't had any slip symptoms, and am able to eat just fine.  Is it dangerous to leave the slip alone??  Any suggestions, support, pity :) is most appreciated.

Have a blessed day!

To be honest, a revision at this point would probably be the best option for her.  It would be her best chance at getting to and staying at goal without additional operations.  I have seen many posts about slips and the resultant unfill-fill rollorcoaster that never seems to get to a point of optimal restriction.  I had the band.  I had an additional surgery to replace the port on my band.  I ended up in a situation where, without a fill in years, I could not keep most foods down.  Revising to the sleeve was the best WLS decision that I have ever made.  I can eat veggies and fruits again.  I lost more weight in 6 months than I did in the 5 years that I had the band.  I would urge this person to look at other options and get the band out of her before it does more damage. 

Thank you for the information.  I guess I've been away from the life of a bandster that I forgot about revision options.  I'll keep that in mind if necessary.

Sorry about the wording on that post.  It was a reply to another one on the topic of revisions in your case.  There are a lot of us that have revised from the band to the sleeve, as well as DS and RNY.  You can find out more info from the folks on the sleeve board and there is a band to sleeve revision group.   I can honestly say that I would never encourage anyone that has had problems with their band to keep their band.  I feel so much better, and my weight loss is so much better with the sleeve.   

Is your new doctor going to remove fluid to help resolve the slip?  Did he do it under flouro?  

He did not remove any fluid and did not do it under fluro.  If the upper GI shows a slip, I'm going to have him remove all the fluid and take a break for it to resolve itself. 

I guess I am confused as to why your new doc would put or try to put  7cc in a band that had 6.5 in it already or did you have a complete un fill before you started going to that doc? Did your new doctor check your fluid level before he started to fill you? did he just put 7cc in one fill or was this over time?I would not worry get your test done and see what is going on. Keep us posted on what's  going on and how you are doing

He didn't pull out any fluid before the fill.  He originally had a syringe with 5ccs and had me drinking water while he inserted the fluid.  He put in the full 5cc's and I downed 16 oz. of water with no problem.  He got another 5cc's and gave me another 16 oz. of water.  After I drank the entire glass and he had added another 2 cc's, he decided to stop and get the x-ray.  He thought the band may have unbuckled.

I don't know what the x-ray showed, only that he felt it was "not normal".

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Hi Sonja,

My band slipped after I had plastic surgery (tummy tuck and breast reduction after all the weight loss).  I went for months not going on as I'd not been sick or anything.  Mentioned it to my plastic surgeon at the 6 mos followup.  He saidhe was surprised and figured I'd remembered.  I guess I was vomiting quite a bit coming out of anesthesia.  Went to my LB surgeon & they did an upper GI.  My little band was practically vertical.  I was a freaked out mess.  Dr Nair took all the fluid out, gave it a few months to calm down since I had gone one with it slipped for so long (was 8 mos out from plastics at this point), my little band popped back into place, and slowly fluid was added back in.  I have the option to go in for another .25cc's if I'd like, but I am pretty comfortable now. 

My biggest advice is that if to remain calm .   And that is the hardest thing to do!  If it has slipped and he removes the fluid, try very hard not to slip in to your pre-op eating habits.  It's very easy thing to do.  I did - not completely, but I put on about 15lbs.  No one expects you to maintain weight without fluid.  If we could do that, we wouldn't have needed WLS, right?  So try not to be hard on yourself.  If you can avoid your trigger foods or binge foods (if you were a binger before WLS), that is the best option.  You will be hungry and you will eat more.  Please try not to give yourself a hard time about it.  Just try to make wise choices.  Of course, for most of us?  Food was how we handled stress.  I started getting back on the OH board more, yelling at my husband more ("I can't smoke cuz I have asthma!  I can't do drugs cuz I don't wanna kill myself or get addicted!  I can't go get drunk cuz that is just wasted calories!  And I can't pig out and down an entire box of Lucky Charms right now while my lapband is empty!!!  WTH am I supposed to do to handle all this stress?"  Of course, his answer was that he'd offer himself up to me if I wanted to become a sex addict... what a guy!); journaling like crazy, and when I got irritated at work and wanted to use it as an excuse to hit the snack machine, I took a walk around the block.  Like I said, I still gained weight, but it could have been worse.  My surgeon said it was less than he expected.  I developed a transfer addiction to frozen yogurt (bad idea), and my meal portions slowly got larger without my paying attention. 

Now I am back on track.  See how your upper GI goes and keep us posted.  Fingers crossed it's just a slip & you'll only need a temporary unfill.